Cabin Vardehaugen

It's not easy building a home along Norway's outer coast. But the views are well worth the effort.

Rocky slopes. Powerful winds. Mercurial weather. Those are some of the challenges architects face when designing a home on the wild shore of Fosen, Norway’s outer coast. The upside? This is some of the most beautiful real estate on the planet.

Fantastic Norway architects took advantage of the views and the terrain to build this family’s 800-square-foot summer getaway. Massive windows in the two bedrooms and the bath look out toward the often-stormy sea.

To protect residents from the wind, architects designed a tiny separate cabin positioned in such a way to create a sheltered courtyard. The blackened timber structures curve inward, nestling into rocks to also help minimize gusts. Recessed notches in the façades—all cut on angles and painted white—act as coves sheltered from both the sun and the wind.

For sunny, warm days, four wooden decks of varying sizes (from reading nook to dining area) offer stunning views. When the weather turns sour, head inside to the bright-white, simple space. The cabin’s galley kitchen hides the two bedrooms and the bath, while the open living and dining area bends to accommodate the rocks outside. There are naturally lit reading areas tucked into the sloping walls.